A DEAD dolphin washed up on a Bournemouth beach could be the same animal that had a lucky escape at Swanage on Sunday.

The adult common dolphin's head was caught in a piece of knotted rope, believed to have come from fishing pots.

Spotted struggling in the shallows at Swanage beach, the creature was released by two people who waded into the water, but was said to have injuries including a cut or tear behind an eye and was bleeding from the mouth.

On Monday a common dolphin, which generally lives out to sea not in coastal waters, was washed up on the beach near Durley Chine.

"I wouldn't like to speculate - possibly it could be the same one," said Ali Tuckey, ranger at the Durlston Marine Project.

The dolphin was spotted by the beach warden and the cause of its death will not be known until a post mortem examination is carried out by the Natural History Museum.

There were reports of another suspected dead dolphin on the beach at Worbarrow in Purbeck, but experts had been unable to get to it because of firing on the range.

"If people do find dead dolphins or other cetaceans on the beach, please don't approach them," he said. "They carry diseases which can be transferred to humans."

He said they should call the project and report the matter. They were also keen to hear sightings of live dolphins, which around the coast would normally be bottlenose dolphins.

"The more we know about where they are and what they are doing, the more we can do to help them," he said.

Live bottlenose dolphins were spotted from Poole Harbour to Portland Bill in December, including a group of 15 to 20.

The British Divers Marine Life Rescue helps stranded dolphins and seals and local co-ordinator Steve Trewhella has also warned people who come across them to stay away and call for expert help.

"They are not Flipper. They have very powerful tails and sharp teeth and if distressed should not be approached in any circumstances," he said.

  • Durlston Marine Project can be contacted on 01929 421111 and Steve Trewhella on 07977 971067.